Specialist care replaces hospital trips for aged care residents
Thousands of aged care residents are avoiding trips to hospital as specialist clinicians bring treatment directly to them.
In the Illawarra-Shoalhaven region, a specialist outreach service has significantly reduced the need for aged care residents to visit emergency departments. The service brings geriatricians, nurses, and other clinicians directly to residents' homes to provide treatment, allowing them to receive care in familiar surroundings. Dr John McKenzie, co-director of the division, emphasizes the importance of providing care in a quiet, homely environment for frail, older adults.
During the 2025-26 financial year, the service accepted 2,502 referrals, with 95.6% of residents (2,393) able to be managed in their homes, avoiding a move to an emergency department. The service has also responded to 124 cases in emergency departments, supporting residents back to aged care. By doing so, the outreach service is helping to reduce avoidable demand on emergency departments as they face increased patient numbers.
The aim is not to deter residents from seeking hospital care when necessary, but to offer an alternative, allowing residents to receive care in a more comfortable, familiar environment. Dr McKenzie believes that extending the model to treat frail older people living in their own homes would be a significant advancement for the population's healthcare.
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